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Period: to
The 1960's
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John F Kennedy is elected President
He is the youngest president to be elected and the first Catholic. He beat Richard Nixon in the election. It was the first time presidential candidates had debates on television. He claimed to be looking forward to meeting the challenges facing the strongest nation in the free world. Despite a lack of experience in foreign affairs Kennedy was still elected President. Kennedy had Lyndon Johnson be his vice president so that he could win southern votes. -
The first American into space
Navy commander Alan Barlett Sheppard Jr. flew on the Freedom 7 Space into space. It was a suborbital flight that lasted 15 minutes and reached 116 miles into the atmosphere. The Soviets were first to get a man into space but the United States followed a month later. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The crisis was between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They came very close to nuclear conflict. The United States surveillance aircraft discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from American soil. Kennedy said the United States would quarantine Cuba and no offensive weapons would be allowed to enter Cuba. He didn't want to start World War III so he opted to set up a naval blockade. -
John F Kennedy is assassinated
Kennedy was in an open top convertible next to his wife with Texas Gov. John Connolly and his wife in the front seats. Suddenly shots rang out and Kennedy was struck in the neck and head. Next to shot was John Connolly in the chest. His killer was Lee Harvey Oswald. Kennedy died at the age of 46. -
The Gulf Tonkin Incident
50,000 United States military personnel lost their lives. Two million Vietnamese civilians also died. This event was America's open entry into the Vietnam War. North Vietnamese torpedo boats headed towards United States Destroyer Maddox. The Maddox fired three warning shots. The North Vietnamese boats were damaged and turned back to shore. -
Malcolm X is assassinated
Malcolm X was an African-American Nationalist and religious leader. You were shot and killed by black Muslims that were mad Malcolm X broke away from the Muslim religion. The three assassins rushed him on stage at a speaking engagement and he was shot 15 times at close range. He was only 39. -
The Tet Offensive
A coordinated series of fears the text over 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam. The Communist leader attempted to provoke rebellion among the South Vietnamese and encourage the United States to scale back it's support of Saigon regime. The North Vietnamese achieved a strategic victory. America with drawled from the region. -
Robert Kennedy's assassination
He was a Democratic Party presidential candidate. He was leaving the Ambassador Hotel after giving a speech and was shot by 24-year-old Palestinian born Sirhan Sirhan with a .22 pistol. He managed to fire 8 bullets before being subdued. Robert Kennedy died 26 hours later at the age of 42. -
Democratic National Convention in Chicago
Tens of thousands of Vietnam War protesters battled police in the streets of Chicago. 12,000 police officers were called and 15,000 state and federal officers were also called to control the chaos and riots. The policemen were severely beating and guessing demonstrators. -
The landing of a man on the moon
Neil Armstrong was the first man to land on the moon. Armstrong turned on cameras that transmitted images from the moon and took his first steps. His famous quote is "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
